California earthquakes

M1.8 earthquake 39 km ESE of Ruth, California

A magnitude 1.8 earthquake struck 39 km ESE of Ruth, California on Sat, Aug 30, 1986, 6:28 PM PDT (01:28 UTC), 12 km (8 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M4.5 26 km NE of Potter Valley, California. This one was a foreshock.

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Map

Where this earthquake was located, with the others nearby. Select one for its page.

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The earthquake

Magnitude
1.8 (Md, duration), micro
Magnitude from
Northern California Seismic System
Local time
UTC
1986-08-31 01:28:55 UTC
Depth
12.3 km (7.7 mi), shallow
Epicenter
40.191° N, 122.865° W
Tsunami flag
No
Status
Reviewed by a seismologist

Did you feel it?

No one has reported feeling this quake to the USGS.

How well it is located

Reviewed by a seismologist.

Location uncertainty
About 1.4 km horizontally, 4.2 km in depth
Depth from
From location
Station coverage gap
262°, poorly surrounded by stations
Stations used
3

Nearest places

Distance and direction from each place to the epicenter, with its forecast.

Nearby

Within 100 km, magnitude 1.5 and up: 37 in the 60 days after this one and 17 in the 30 days before it.

After

  1. 2.125 km SE of Indianola, California · 14640 days ago · 14 km deep · 98 km away
  2. 3.122 km W of Elk Creek, California · 14638 days ago · 30 km deep · 68 km away
  3. 2.015 km SSE of Flournoy, California · 14638 days ago · 4 km deep · 61 km away
  4. 2.64 km S of Mad River, California · 14634 days ago · 21 km deep · 61 km away
  5. 1.922 km NNE of Upper Lake, California · 14634 days ago · 13 km deep · 93 km away
  6. 2.16 km ENE of Hayfork, California · 14632 days ago · 8 km deep · 47 km away
  7. 2.717 km WSW of Burnt Ranch, California · 14632 days ago · 4 km deep · 90 km away
  8. 1.64 km W of Brooktrails, California · 14631 days ago · 4 km deep · 96 km away
  9. 2.018 km NE of Upper Lake, California · 14630 days ago · 4 km deep · 99 km away
  10. 4.526 km NE of Potter Valley, California · 14630 days ago · 4 km deep · 81 km away
  11. 1.810 km E of Laytonville, California · 14629 days ago · 4 km deep · 71 km away
  12. 2.310 km NNE of Shingletown, California · 14628 days ago · 17 km deep · 97 km away
  13. 1.79 km E of Millville, California · 14626 days ago · 11 km deep · 78 km away
  14. 1.916 km E of Covelo, California · 14622 days ago · -1 km deep · 48 km away
  15. 1.66 km SE of Shasta Lake, California · 14621 days ago · 20 km deep · 68 km away
  16. 1.52 km W of Bella Vista, California · 14621 days ago · 5 km deep · 71 km away
  17. 2.120 km ENE of Potter Valley, California · 14615 days ago · 4 km deep · 90 km away
  18. 2.08 km SSE of Laytonville, California · 14614 days ago · 6 km deep · 80 km away
  19. 1.64 km SE of Laytonville, California · 14614 days ago · 0 km deep · 77 km away
  20. 2.024 km NNE of Potter Valley, California · 14609 days ago · 8 km deep · 76 km away
  21. 3.020 km ENE of Potter Valley, California · 14608 days ago · 14 km deep · 91 km away
  22. 1.919 km ENE of Potter Valley, California · 14608 days ago · 4 km deep · 91 km away
  23. 2.615 km ENE of Potter Valley, California · 14607 days ago · 6 km deep · 94 km away
  24. 1.914 km NNE of Alderpoint, California · 14602 days ago · 10 km deep · 59 km away
  25. 1.714 km NE of Willits, California · 14601 days ago · 4 km deep · 84 km away
  26. 1.810 km SSW of Laytonville, California · 14600 days ago · 7 km deep · 87 km away
  27. 2.617 km SSE of Covelo, California · 14600 days ago · 4 km deep · 67 km away
  28. 2.69 km SE of Laytonville, California · 14600 days ago · 8 km deep · 77 km away
  29. 3.26 km WSW of Covelo, California · 14600 days ago · 19 km deep · 61 km away
  30. 2.528 km ENE of Covelo, California · 14598 days ago · 6 km deep · 35 km away
  31. 2.22 km SSE of Covelo, California · 14595 days ago · 4 km deep · 57 km away
  32. 1.818 km NNE of Upper Lake, California · 14592 days ago · 0 km deep · 98 km away
  33. 2.218 km NNE of Upper Lake, California · 14592 days ago · 7 km deep · 99 km away
  34. 2.119 km ENE of Brooktrails, California · 14590 days ago · 4 km deep · 78 km away
  35. 1.63 km NNE of Garberville, California · 14586 days ago · 13 km deep · 78 km away
  36. 1.718 km S of Covelo, California · 14581 days ago · 4 km deep · 69 km away
  37. 2.024 km ENE of Hydesville, California · 14581 days ago · 5 km deep · 97 km away

Before

  1. 2.19 km SE of Covelo, California · 14646 days ago · 4 km deep · 57 km away
  2. 2.210 km WSW of Mineral, California · 14653 days ago · 7 km deep · 99 km away
  3. 1.77 km SSE of Millville, California · 14654 days ago · 4 km deep · 70 km away
  4. 3.76 km ENE of Garberville, California · 14658 days ago · 22 km deep · 74 km away
  5. 1.812 km NE of Los Molinos, California · 14659 days ago · 4 km deep · 76 km away
  6. 1.826 km NE of Potter Valley, California · 14663 days ago · 4 km deep · 77 km away
  7. 2.811 km SSW of Willow Creek, California · 14663 days ago · 26 km deep · 100 km away
  8. 2.317 km E of Burnt Ranch, California · 14664 days ago · 12 km deep · 74 km away
  9. 2.97 km NW of Hyampom, California · 14664 days ago · 4 km deep · 76 km away
  10. 1.829 km WSW of Elk Creek, California · 14666 days ago · 13 km deep · 72 km away
  11. 1.75 km NNW of Anderson, California · 14666 days ago · 4 km deep · 58 km away
  12. 2.511 km WSW of Hyampom, California · 14669 days ago · -1 km deep · 73 km away
  13. 2.410 km WSW of Ruth, California · 14669 days ago · 28 km deep · 48 km away
  14. 2.511 km ENE of Potter Valley, California · 14671 days ago · 33 km deep · 94 km away
  15. 4.75 km NNE of Brooktrails, California · 14671 days ago · 58 km deep · 89 km away
  16. 3.215 km S of Covelo, California · 14671 days ago · 23 km deep · 67 km away
  17. 2.110 km W of Laytonville, California · 14671 days ago · 29 km deep · 84 km away

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Sources

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event nc10086513. Read Thu, Oct 1, 2026, 2:57 AM UTC.